When It All Went to Custard

by Danielle Hawkins

The news of her husband's infidelity comes as a nasty shock to Jenny Reynolds, part-time building control officer and full-time mother - even though, to her surprise and embarrassment, her first reaction is relief, not anguish. What really hurts is her children's unhappiness at the break-up, and the growing realisation that, alone, she may lose the family farm. This is the story of the year after Jenny's old life falls apart; of family and farming, pet lambs and geriatric dogs, choko-bearing tenants and Springsteen-esque neighbours. And of just perhaps a second chance at happiness.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult, Book Club, Contemporary

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Bestselling New Zealand author Danielle Hawkins lives on a sheep and beef farm near Otorohanga with her husband and two children. She works part-time as a large animal vet, and writes when the kids are at school and she's not required for farming purposes. She is a keen gardener, an intermittently keen cook and an avid reader. Her other talents include memorising poetry, making bread and zapping flies with an electric fly swat. She tends to exaggerate to improve a story, with the result that her husband believes almost nothing she says.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jenny Reynolds finds out her husband is having an affair with the next door neighbours wife you could safely say this is the beginning of when it all went to custard. Jenny was now left to deal with a marriage separation, take care of their two young children as well as to keep the farm going. What could possibly go wrong?

What an entertaining, fun, lighthearted read this was and I can’t wait to read more by this author. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The title and cover (LOVE THE COVER) are what caught my attention at first for this book and I’m so glad they did. Highly recommended.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…what’s yellow and very dangerous?….Shark-infested custard “

Having enjoyed and , I was delighted to have the opportunity to read Danielle Hawkins fourth novel, When It All Went to Custard.

Learning of her husband’s affair with their neighbours wife, Jenny Reynolds is surprised to realise that the end of her marriage will be a relief. In the wake of the separation her priorities are ensuring the happiness of her two young children, and figuring out how to keep the family farm she loves.

Between her ex-husband’s attempts at emotional blackmail, nonsensical knock knock jokes, a lazy farmhand, a lonely old man plying her with chokos, a demanding sister, a high-strung dog, her part time job as a building control officer, and an attractive, and now single, neighbour, Jenny tries to hold it all together and find her footing.

Hawkins has a talent for creating charming and relatable characters, her personal experience of the joys and hardships of farming provide authenticity to the setting, and her skill with genuine dialogue results in great pacing.

Laden with warmth, honesty and humour, When It All Went to Custard is an engaging contemporary story of family, farming and romance in rural New Zealand.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
When It All Went to Custard. I love the title of the fourth novel penned by Danielle Hawkins. I’d like to think that this expression is something similar to ‘it all went pear shaped’. We use this expression when we fail, or things go wrong, which are often out of our control. As the author of When It All Went to Custard hails from New Zealand, I have a feeling this is a phrase coined over there, I’d love to know yes or no! Anyhow, I digress, When It All Went to Custard is a feel good, humour filled and realistic contemporary fiction title that proved to be an entertaining read.

Life hasn’t been easy lately for Jenny Reynolds. She is struggling to keep her life afloat. However, Jenny’s life tumbles into something much worse when she receives the news that her husband has been cheating on her. The news doesn’t quite surprise Jenny, as she knows her marriage has been floundering for some time. Jenny’s main concern lies with her children, who are devastated by the break-up. Other issues in the marriage breakdown become more pressing, especially as the family’s livelihood, their farm, may no longer belong to her. As Jenny works to recover in the wake of her marriage crisis, she deals with a combination of problems simultaneously. These include farm based issues, animal problems and community tensions. Somewhere along this line, Jenny may get the chance to learn how to embrace love and life again.

It’s been a few years now since I last picked up a novel written by Danielle Hawkins. In fact, I have two of her backlist titles languishing on my to be read shelf, begging to be read! I purchased these two Hawkins titles after I thoroughly enjoyed Chocolate Cake for Breakfast. It was a true delight to be able to review the fourth and latest novel from Danielle Hawkins. I love this author’s unique blend of natural flow dialogue, light balanced with serious moments and the rich New Zealand flavour that is sprinkled throughout this tale.

When It All Went to Custard features a surprising opening situation. Hawkins sets her main protagonist up for the fight of her life in the early stages of the novel. I liked how this scenario worked as a wake up call for Jenny. Life seems to be drifting away for Jenny, she seems to let it pass her by. It is clear that she has lost all passion for her marriage and it was only held together through her love for her children and the need to maintain the stability of the family farm. The second chance situation in love, life and career is handled really well by Hawkins. Jenny is such an agreeable character too. It is virtually impossible not to want her to rise above her adversity and triumph.

Hawkins casts a critical eye over a number of themes in this novel. Each theme seemed to really click with me as a reader, I think this was due to my ability to connect to the honest presentation of these true-to-life issues. Within the pages of When It All Went to Custard, Danielle Hawkins provides her audience with a full and balanced run down of a variety of challenging life issues. These include, infidelity, relationships, marriage breakdown, re-entering the dating scene, the work/life balance, parenting, parental relationships and self fulfilment. It may sound like this is a serious examination of the life of a woman grappling with some hard times. However, the trademark wry sense of humour and snappy dialogue employed by Hawkins ensures that the reader feels a sense of awakening – not sadness!

What took this book to great heights for me was the stunning setting. All the issues in this book play out against the picturesque backdrop of rural New Zealand. Hawkins definitely has an aptitude for providing a strong visual quality to her locale base. This was the case in When It All Went to Custard. I appreciated this aspect of the novel very much.

‘There was a spectacular frost in the morning, carpeting the lawn in silver and furring the boards of the deck. The Tipoli flats at the foot of the valley were blanketed entirely in fog when I went out to uncover my jacaranda tree, and the bush-clad ranges behind them rose through the mist like islands in a white sea. The air was clean and fresh and lovely, and although none of last night’s problems has gone away, they seemed a lot less dire in the sunshine.’

Farming works as the umbrella theme in When It All Went to Custard and I seemed to relish this side of the tale very much. With the focus being on a farm that deals in both sheep and cattle, it was refreshing to see this scene play out from rural New Zealand based point of view. There are plenty of issues for Jenny and co to contend with, which added plenty of colour to this involving tale. Linked to the farming side of things is Jenny’s interactions with neighbour Andrew, which was simply a joy to read.

When It All Went to Custard was a charming read all over! I loved the chance to reconnect with Danielle Hawkins and her one of a kind style humour, witty character banter and distinct rural New Zealand setting base. A book bursting with plenty of heart and vitality, contemporary fiction fans should not let this title slip through the cracks!

*I wish to thank Harper Collins Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

My View:
I cannot get enough of this authors writing! (I am still looking for a copy of Dinner at Rosie’s if anyone has a copy on their shelf somewhere).

Danielle Hawkins writes rural fiction with charm, wit, humour and engaging contemporary issues. Take a peek at the lives reflected here and you will see situations, landscapes (albeit New Zealand landscapes but they do translate well to Australian settings), and characters that remind you of places and people you know.

Danielle’s books always light up my day. More please.

[Fiona Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantic fiction is one of the very few genres I don't even really dabble in, but after this, Danielle Hawkins has definitely earned an exemption.

This was light without making light of the serious issues, fun and humorous in all the right places, and reading it was like a quick holiday. The setting is spot on, and there's some gorgeous writing of early, misty, mornings that had me really missing the North Island.

All around, a really enjoyable time. Definitely an author I'll be looking for more from.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and honest and lambs and a single mum and farms and sisters and weirdly both my name and my birthday featured prominently.
I loved it nearly as much as Chocolate Cake for Breakfast (my friend disagrees and likes this one better). All I know is that Hawkins is 5 stars and I recommend her books to everyone (even my dad liked Dinner at Rose's).

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

More a 3.5 than a 4. This was a great light weight read, but with a bit of oomph to it. Although a NZ book, it wasn’t particularly Kiwi and could have been set anywhere. A few bits made me laugh out loud - I’ll read her others when I need something to read that isn’t too taxing.

[Deb Kingston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a good curl up nice and cosy read. I picked this book up as the author is a NZ author and I liked the look of the cover as well as the title.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and a half stars, a good holiday read and I did find it a bit compulsive as the main character tries to find her feet after her marriage breakup endangers her ability to keep the family farm going. Mostly a pretty honest look at farming economics and methods in New Zealand and a convenient romance and relationship story. Well plotted and with some humour but not as enjoyable as her other books. [But it is dead cheap on amazon Aus]

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) It's been so long since I last read a Danielle Hawkins book and from the first page of WHEN IT ALL WENT TO CUSTARD I was reminded why I love her books so much! This book is absolutely trademark Danielle Hawkins - funny, heart warming, realistic and so, so good. Reading her books is like reading a hug and WHEN IT ALL WENT TO CUSTARD was no different.

2) 10/10 points for humour and swoony romance! The humour was spot on and made me cackle out loud more than once. It was also really nice to read a romance with a single mum as the main character as I don't feel that's super common in romance? Anyway, I loved the swoony but realistic romance with my favourite tropes like grumpy hero, smart heroine, snarky humour and a HEA - all my favourite things!

3) I adored the New Zealand setting SO MUCH. I don't read/find it hard to find very many books set in New Zealand so I'm used to reading books set in settings and places I have absolutely no clue where anything is or nothing is familiar to me. The rural New Zealand setting of CUSTARD was so familiar to me and I loved being able to recognize names and places of things or know where they are! It's the small things!

4) Not the most exciting book I've ever read but it gripped me from the first page and gave me an escape from looming uni assignments! Definitely recommend if you're looking for something relaxing and unstressful to read. HEA is included!

5) Will absolutely reread again and again! Contemporary romance done THE Best. So cozy and heartwarming but also realistic and very clever. If you like Lucy Parker definitely give Danielle Hawkins a try!

Also see my interview with Danielle Hawkins on my blog here!

Thank you Harper Collins NZ for the review copy!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant romp through rural New Zealand and a year in the life of Jenny Reynolds. Struggling alone with family and farm after finding out her husband has had an affair. Many relatable (sometimes likable and several times not) characters, a great sense of humour and generally a satisfying easy read.

[Monique Mulligan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I’ve read by Danielle and, like the previous two Dinner at Rose’s and Chocolate Cake for Breakfast, it was entertaining from start to finish. Jenny’s life post cheating husband certainly does go to custard, what with her sister wanting to sell the family farm and her young children’s unhappiness at the break-up. But custard’s not all that bad, especially when a grumpy-but-cute neighbour and some “awesome sex” is added to the mix.

Light-hearted, funny and convincing all the way through, there was a giggle on almost every page for me, and it was just what I needed. But it’s not just about the warmth and the laughter – Danielle has a gift for creating terrific, believable characters who spring to life off the page. I could picture in full colour the old pain in the neck John with his cabbage-wrapped leg and later, Jenny’s smart-arse ex dropping his towel as he walked away in one scene. If you like your contemporary fiction with a dash of humour, don’t miss this one.

[marlin1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky dialogue and characters and all round feel good book. Really enjoyed this latest book from one of my favourite authors.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very humorous, well written, very New Zealand setting. Enjoyed it as many laugh out loud moments. Interesting cast of characters.

[chai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

cute but also bizarre. i couldn't put it down once i got into it so that's something

[S · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know why I keep picking up books about newly divorced female protagonists...but of the ones I've read lately, I couldn't wait to be done with this one. Was truly boring, some of the most annoying characters and felt like an episode of landline on the abc with all the farming talk which really didn't enrich the premise of the story anyway...infact, I'd probably rather watch a farming program like landline and find it more interesting than this story. Thanks goodness it's done.

[Lynne Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable easy holiday read.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another warm, personable book from Danielle Hawkins. The characters are real and relatable, and the story is perfect travel-to-work audiobook goodness. I particularly enjoyed the detail in describing what's involved in farming - it was a lovely setting for romance and family dynamics.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read written by an author with sharp witty observational skills. The distinctively New Zealand rural setting made it a particular delight and I would be intrigued to hear how international readers find that element. Central character Jenny discovers her husband’s infidelity and yes, all turns to custard. This is the story of the year that followed. The characters are memorable, the dialogue crisp and credible and the various story strands tie often not quite so neatly together.

[Felicity Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literary people tend to sneer at the sort of warm, humorous women’s fiction variously dismissed as Aga sagas and chick lit. But in doing so, they are dismissing the accessible, relatable, essentially Kiwi stories that reflect not just who we are, but the skilled craft of a writer who can capture our voices, our stories and our own brand of laid-back, laconic humour. Danielle Hawkins is one of those skilled writers whose quick dialogue and carefully observed characterisation perfectly project how real people talk and live their lives. Quintessentially Kiwi, and set on a struggling King Country beef and sheep farm, When it All Went to Custard has equal amounts of grit balancing the sweetness and light. It doesn’t shy away from the issues that affect us all – the juggling with jelly mums have to do to manage careers, demanding children, ageing parents and, in this case, a husband who is playing around. Not to mention the difficulties of making a living out of farming; and the need to be truly loved.
The novel begins as Jenny’s taciturn neighbour Andrew arrives to announce he just found her husband Dave in bed with his wife. To her shame, her first reaction is relief. Her marriage has been on the rocks for a while and she just hasn’t had time to think about it. Which is hardly surprising as she tries to juggle her roles: a part-time building control officer at the local council bringing work home to keep up with the load; a part time hand helping out her husband on her parents’ farm; and a dedicated mum of two children aged four and six. After the big reveal, Dave leaves her for the neighbour’s wife and Jenny has to cope with the farm, a next-to-useless drafted in farm manager and two children who, devastated at the break-up, crave for their parents to get back together. Jenny’s reluctance to have Dave back – even though he’s had affairs before – makes her out to be the one at fault, which Dave as usual plays to the hilt.
When the slack farm manager does a runner, the arrival of neighbour Andrew’s brother Harry (who has yet to come out of the closet in his rural homeland) to take over running the farm is a godsend. And it has the added advantage of bringing the now-eligible Andrew closer. If only he wasn’t so rude and snarly, like his ancient dog Meg. And if only the farm could pay its way and she could stay in her much-loved house and garden forever instead of being at risk of eviction should her parents decide to sell and cash up for their retirement years.
Anyone who has had children and tried to find that impossible balance between work, family and me-time will relate to the situation Jenny finds herself in. The special treat in store is the witty dialogue, and especially the way Hawkins captures the offbeat things kids say and do, and the insight into small-community, country life.

[Emily D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Christmas present from a friend based in New Zealand. His wisdom in selecting this book for me was he was working from a NZ bestselling books list for 2019, and after he had difficulty finding some of the others in an Australian bookshop, they did stock this one so this ended up being my present. I haven’t read Danielle Hawkins before, but I dare say I will read her again as when it all went to custard is exactly the type of women’s fiction I really enjoy – funny, warm and with a bit of romance. The book starts (on page three!) with Jenny Reynolds discovering that her husband has been having an affair. The implications of this are quite realistically and thoughtfully explored as she navigates the family farm (her husband was the manager), her children splitting their time between the two parents, her relationship with her ex-husband, finding love, work and family. If I was going to nit-pick I would say at times I found the dialogue a bit unnatural, and the love interest a bit easy, but really, I flew through this book (read it in three days) and loved the story. 3 and 1/2 stars.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bizarre novel set in rural New Zealand about a woman’s life as it falls apart when she finds out about her husband’s affair and the year of picking up the pieces that ensues.

I enjoy Danielle Hawkin’s writing and love the NZ setting - just the familiar slang, names and references to my home country are so welcome.

BUT there was something about this novel.
I couldn’t put it down, it had me hooked - yet it ANNOYED me so much!
The characters - I’ve never wanted to throat punch so many characters in one book.

Danielle’s writing is that good I guess that she made me feel so strongly, but it just felt so annoying to read a book where I didn’t like a single character - including the protagonist. I don’t expect a perfect character, I love a character that is real and flawed, who develops & deepens through a novel - but Danielle wrote her characters so well that I just couldn’t stop rolling my eyes at them and while that’s great writing, I guess I don’t like a book that makes me so annoyed! 😅

[Wendy Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danielle Hawkins used to be a vet at the Mangawhai clinic, many years ago, and helped save the life of one of my goats who had eaten rhododendron leaves - true story! So discovering in more recent times that she was now an author and I absolutely love her books was an added bonus. You may have seen her on Country Calendar back in 2013.

I feel right at home when I'm reading a Danielle Hawkins novel. I love her sense of humour, and how real her characters and dialogue are.

My only real complaint about this book is that I should not have started reading this book when I went to bed last night! I did not want to put it down, and forced myself to stop reading an hour past my usual going-to-sleep time. Luckily, I woke early, so got a bit more read before I had to start my day, and finished it during a bit of quiet time this afternoon.

[Shereen Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny is juggling work, two children, a small ginger-and-white dog called Tessa and trying to keep the family farm afloat when she finds out about her husband’s affair. Over the next year she negotiates a minefield of prickly sisters, dodgy tenants, awkward suitors, untrustworthy farm hands, sick stock and the threat of losing the farm that has been in her family for four generations. A gentle read with a cast of well-drawn characters and moments of humour, this was like a hug in book-form. Danielle Hawkins is a local author, farmer and vet and what I particularly enjoyed about this book were her descriptions of farming life and animal behaviours. It provided a much needed pick-me-up after a grey and miserable day at work!

[Rosemary Race · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not new to the sensations of her husband admiring other women...manage a farm, full time work, a kindergarten kid and a school child and your family too.

Then out of the blue you spy a man who'd never be your type but his wife was one of your husband's exploits!!!

Hear any bells yet? Danielle Hawkins book s full of fun, silliest smiley attitudes and family even if it is your sister going beserko and for good reason you've fallen in love...

"For the sake of the children couldn't you stay together" "No, for me. For my life I want more" these are my words not in this book but from my girlfriends who've gone through unsettling times this is a MUST read happy dance book.

With the beautiful New Zealand landscape to sea you'll be enriched as I am after reading Danielle Hawkins book.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Danielle’s books and this is no exception - I listened to the (digital) audio version which was great as it had the New Zealand accent to fit with the book. If you loved Jessica Dettmann’s book How to Be Second Best you will love this. Full of cheating husbands, crazy families and the grump farmer next door who just maybe might not be so grumpy!

[Debbie McCauley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how the title of this book ‘When it All Went to Custard’ is from a uniquely Kiwi saying and places the setting of the story squarely in rural New Zealand. When things ‘turn to custard’, it means that circumstances have become out of our control (despite best-laid plans) and there is an epic fail involved. It’s similar to the British ‘went pear-shaped’ term - originally RAF slang meaning a plan goes horribly wrong or failed. I prefer our ‘custard’ term as it really conveys the hopelessness of trying to control the situation - just visualise custard spilt all over the floor and trying to use your hands to scoop it up when your fingers are wide apart!

Jenny’s day isn’t going well, and then her usually reserved and grumpy neighbour Andrew arrives to announce he has just found her husband Dave in bed with his wife. Jenny is surprised to feel slightly relieved as the marriage wasn’t going that well anyway, but there are their two children to think of and the lease her and Dave have on her parent’s farm. Dave took care of the farm while she works part-time at the local council as a building control officer, juggling the workload by taking work home, helping on the farm, and running after a six and four year old.

Her life pretty much ‘turns to custard’ as Dave leaves, the farm helper turns out to have been neglecting his duties (and the animals!) and eventually does a moonlight flit, her retired Dad has to help out, her bewildered children try and cope with the changes, the farm is running at a loss, and Dave’s other extramarital affairs come to light. Then the manipulative Dave decides he might want to come back, but he already has another girlfriend who seems to want a baby...

Neighbour Andrew's brother Harry comes on the scene to help run the farm, and the two form a close friendship. Harry has his own issues - a broken heart and how to ‘come out of the closet’ to Andrew. With Jenny’s parents considering selling the farm she may lose her home and much-loved garden and it looks like Andrew may also have to sell his farm to pay out his now ex-wife.

Juggling these issues, along with refereeing between the children, being a parent helper at fundraising events, sewing costumes for school plays, general small county town-isms, a possible romance, and coping with a manipulative sausage dog called Tessa is what women everywhere will empathise with. Into the mix are Hawkins witticisms and quirky sense of humour (‘You’re about as cold and hard as a toasted marshmallow. Pull yourself together, woman’ p. 163). Loved this book as much as I did Hawkins other titles - easy to read and cosy - would read again!

[Gia Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something about New Zealand based books/New Zealand authors that makes my heart warm, makes me hold the book with anticipation and pride. Our country is absolutely beautiful and the stories that come floating off of the pages of local diary’s, poetry notebooks, computer screens or discovered on the backs of the jib walls when decorating is like finding a golden nugget of visionary delight.
When it all went to custard came up on my must read list I waited patiently for it to be returned to the local library bookshelf. Turned out good things do come to those who wait.
Narrator and main character of the story Jenny suffers through the loss of her marriage. Husband Dave’s decision that life might be greener on the other side of the fence was outed by the husband of the women Dave climbed into bed with. This one event steered Jenny down the emotional and very rural path of self discovery and learning to love herself and others again.
The children add a beautiful symphony of humour, innocence and connection that is familiar to any mother that has waded through a situation in life that’s caused upheaval and chance of family dynamics.
Rural New Zealand is home to many, and livelihoods depend on the farming and knowledge of the land. Jenny has a love of rural life but lacks in knowledge of how to care and maintain the farm for profitability purposes. The acceptance and help from the newly separated husband Andrew next door is a welcome addition to the storyline (reminded me of Longmire). As well as his brother Nathan, however I did find his character could of been built up a little more. Don’t even get me started on old man John up the hill!!!
The style of writing gave a detailed look into Jenny’s day to day life and her mental processing of her new paths that lay before her.
I grew to admire her mental strength, abilities to juggle duties on and off the farm. How she kept herself together is beyond my level of understanding!
She was out to prove to herself and others how strong willed and in love with the land she was brought up on meant to her.
An easy read with tumbleweeds of humour blowing through. I absolutely think this books captured a little glimpse into kiwi rural life. Pride, love, honour and grief. What it costs to run a farm and the emotional cost to fight for it.

Enjoy the escape to rural New Zealand.

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny Reynolds is the central character in this charming family/farm/rural NZ story, with a nice romance tossed in to sweeten the deal. The news of her husband's infidelity with the neighbour's wife comes as a shock - but unexpectedly, some relief. Things haven't been brilliant for a while. The ensuing separation and outfall for Jenny's children and family ricochet around, with varied reactions. Of major consideration is the fact she might lose the family farm, part of the family's identity for years. What I loved most about this book was the way Jenny coped with everything with grace (although sometimes losing it - as you would) and wry humour, even though some days were dark indeed. She's a tremendous Mum to her young children, who sounded like busy, smart, slightly emotionally wobbly kids due to the marriage break-up. She didn't resort to emotional blackmail like her husband did. She cared about her sister, who was very prickly and rather insensitive, and for her retired parents. She enjoyed her fairly dull work and coped with the tension there. She was nice to a garrulous and annoying (but desperately lonely) old man living on the property. She loved planting flowers. She nurtured her old dog and newborn lambs. She did stuff for the school and the community, even though the effort was tremendous, considering she was now running the farm and working in town. Wonder woman! And then there's her quiet neighbour Andrew Faulkner, who broke the news about his wife and Jenny's husband... Somewhere in there might be a second - and better - chance for romance. This was an easy and enjoyable read. It charmed me; a book with tremendous heart. Thanks so much to Harper&Collins Australia and Beauty&Lace Bookclub for the book!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the Beauty and Lace Book Club and Harper Collins Australia for my free copy to review.

http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...

From the title and the cover I thought that this was going to be a funny book set in the English Countryside. To my surprise, it was actually set in New Zealand, and was only mildly amusing.

It was alright. I loved the start of the book, I thought it had a lot of potential. Harry had potential to bring in more humour to the book, but he was a bit sad and pathetic in the end. The new love interest wasn’t very interesting, in fact, he was a bit boring as a character. Dave was just a horrible, self-absorbed person – how did Jenny not see through him earlier? And I felt so sorry for those sheep!

I loved Jenny. The kids were great. The sister was awful (in a good way – great character!). I would have liked more time getting to know the parents, and the “lodger” John was both funny and cringe-worthy at the same time.

The romance was underwhelming. “Some time later, having very kindly supplied me with the nicest sexual experience of my life, he sighed and rolled away from me.” I kinda like a little more than that. I don’t need every move that he made (some authors supply way too much detail!), but a few steamy details wouldn’t go astray.

If I love a book, I read it in 2 or 3 days. This one took me 12 days to read. I would read a bit, and I did enjoy it while I was reading it. But the story just didn’t grab me enough to get me to pick it up again and keep reading. 3 ½ stars.